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A Man for All Seasons

Robert Bolt

Study Questions & Essay Topics

Suggestions for Further Reading

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1. What position
does Cromwell offer Rich in exchange for Rich’s false testimony
at More’s trial?

(A) Lord Chancellor of England

(B) Duke of Norfolk

(C) Chancellor of Babylon

(D) Attorney general of Wales

2. What did a woman
use to attempt to bribe More?

(A) An Italian silver cup

(B) Cash

(C) A silver tea service

(D) A fine, single malt scotch

3. Which of the following
roles does the Common Man not play?

(A) Judge

(B) Jury

(C) Headsman

(D) Jailer

4. What is the name
of the boat King Henry sails down the Thames to meet Sir Thomas?

(A)
The QE2

(B)
The Fast and the Furious

(C)
The Great Harry

(D)
Mary, Queen of Scots

5. How long has More
been in jail by the time we see him there in Act Two?

(A) Six months

(B) One year

(C) Two years

(D) D. Twenty-five years

6. What saying does
the Common Man come up with to justify the way he treats the imprisoned
Thomas More?

(A) Better a live rat than a dead lion

(B) A rolling stone gathers no moss

(C) When the cat’s away, the mice will play

(D) A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush

7. Why does More
suddenly let Roper marry his daughter?

(A) Because he respects Roper’s steadfast moral values

(B) Because he needs an heir

(C) Because Roper switches back to Catholicism

(D) Because Margaret begged him

8. What charge must
Cromwell trump up in order to be able to execute Sir Thomas?

(A) High treason

(B) Aggravated assault

(C) First-degree murder

(D) Indecent exposure

9. Who isn’t mentioned
by the Common Man as someone who ends up being executed in the aftermath
of the events depicted in the play?

(A) Anne Boleyn

(B) Thomas Cromwell

(C) Thomas Cranmer

(D) Richard Rich

10. Where is More’s
house?

(A) Chelsea

(B) Westminster

(C) Hampton Court

(D) Wales

11. Where does the
family find Thomas when he should be getting ready for the king’s
arrival?

(A) In the house

(B) At the track

(C) At vespers

(D) Sleeping

12. Why does Norfolk
participate in the persecution of his friend More?

(A) The king ordered him to, so the trial
wouldn’t seem unfair

(B) More made fun of Norfolk’s son

(C) Norfolk wanted to get More out of the way so he could get
a papal dispensation to marry Alice

(D) He genuinely opposed More’s position

13. To which character
does More display his passionate side?

(A) Alice

(B) Roper

(C) Jailer

(D) All of the above

14. What book of
the Bible does Henry quote to support his claim that his first marriage
was invalid?

(A) Leviticus

(B) Deuteronomy

(C) Kings

(D) First Corinthians

15. What heretic
does Cromwell attempt to associate with More?

(A) Martin Luther

(B) Galileo

(C) The Holy Maid of Kent

(D) James Baker

16. Why does Thomas
refuse to tell his family what he thinks about the divorce and the
Act of Supremacy?

(A) Because they can’t be trusted

(B) Because he doesn’t want them to have
to lie if called to testify against him

(C) Because he hopes to pin the whole thing on them

(D) Because they probably wouldn’t understand

17. What does More
burn to warm his house when he is poor?

(A) Wood

(B) Bracken

(C) Coal

(D) Heretics

18. What is Roper’s
religion at the beginning of the play?

(A) Jewish

(B) Catholic

(C) Lutheran

(D) Quaker

19. What job does
More recommend that Rich take at the very beginning of the play?

(A) Lord Chancellor

(B) Attorney general of Wales

(C) Schoolteacher

(D) Stripper

20. What does Rich
say he will do with the money he gains from selling the silver cup?

(A) Buy new clothes

(B) Buy papal indulgences

(C) Buy More’s friendship

(D) Buy a ticket out of England

21. What position
does Rich take after More first refuses his request for work?

(A) Cranmer’s steward

(B) Roper’s secretary

(C) Henry’s housecleaner

(D) Norfolk’s librarian

22. What phrase does
the publican repeat in his conversation with Cromwell?

(A) “Yes, sir”

(B) “No, sir”

(C) “I don’t understand, sir”

(D) “Take a hike, sir”

23. Who tells More
that he’s behaving “like a printed book”?

(A) Margaret

(B) Alice

(C) Henry

(D) Norfolk

24. Henry’s first
queen is named

(A) Anne

(B) Meg

(C) Elizabeth

(D) Catherine

25. In his preface,
which man does Bolt not cite as an influence in writing his play?

How does Thomas More differ from Thomas Cromwell on religion and politics?
Why do the characters in the reading react as they do to Richard Rich reading Machiavelli and knowing Cromwell?
How does More differ from Wolsey in his opinion on the King’s divorce?
How does Thomas More feel towards Henry VIII?
How does Henry VIII try to persuade More to change his mind?
How does More resemble Henry VIII?
How do Cromwell’s words and actions with Richard Rich demonstrate his political and moral Machiavellianism?... Read more→